Game



April 14, refs. 1,533,676

T. TROMANS ET AL cum: 7

Filed April 22, 1924 2 Shats-Sheet 1 V v ATTOIWEYS.

April 1-4, 1925. I 1,533,676 r. TROMANS ET AL I mun:

v Filed April 22 1924- 2 Sheets-Shoot 2 A TORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 14, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrice,

THOMAS TROMANS, OF BRIDGEI QRT, AND ERNEST L. WHITNEY, OF STRATFORD,

CONNECTICUT.

GAME.

Application filed April 23,1924. Serial No. 708.103.

1 T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, (1) THoMAs TnonANs and ERNEST L.- VVHLTNEY, citizens of the United States, residing at (1) Bridge port, 2) Stratford county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Game-of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a game, andv paris a receptacle with a concave inner surface provided with a series of pockets or recesses leading therefrom adjacent its upper outer edge adapted to receive one or more balls which may be thrown outwardly 'by centrifugal action.

It is an object of an improved device in which the balls may roll directly over the center but in which there will be no chance of the balls becoming stationary on a :tixed center, and also to provide an improved construction of this type of apparatus.

With the tori-:going and other objects in view, we have devised the construction illus tratcd in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of our invention.

no Fig. i] isa tri'insverse section through the same, showing the method of mounting it.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a different form of a device. r I

Fig. t is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig, 3. v

Fig. is a transverse section through the same. a w

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through a portion of the outer rim of the receptacle shown in Figs. 1 and. 2 on an enlarged scale, and

Fig. '7 .is a similar sectional view of the form of device shown in Figs. 3 to 5.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, 1O represents receptacle or bowl, made of any suitable material. such as wood, which is circular and has a concave inner surface 11. it is provided about its upper outer rim or edge with a plurality of pockets or recesses 12 with the o icnings thereto leading from this inner surface. These pockets or recesses are also numbered, preferably by plates 13 set into the inner surface of the receptacle. The bottom ot the receptacle ticularly to that type 01 game in which there the invention to provide has a raised surface it which is convex, and

it is arranged substantially coaxially with the mounting .15 for rotatably supporting the receptacle. The receptacle is adapted to hold one or more balls 16 which are oi a size to rest in the pockets or recesses 12. For the purpose of retaining these balls in the receptacle the open top may be covered with suitable transparent material as glass or mica, but in this larger form we prefer to provide an inwardly extending flange 17 upon the upper rim of the receptacle above theentrancc to the pockets or rec sses 1.2. The bowl is also preferably provided with an outwardly extending rim or flange 18 which may be grasped for starting its rotation, and also'to facilitate carrying, and this rim may if preferred be somewhat concaved at its under side, as shown at 19. Tu this larger term of receptacle it preferred to mount it to rotate 111 a horizontal plane upon a permanent mounting. For this purpose a pedestal. 20 is in'ovided carrying a sleeve 21 having ball bearing raceways at its opposite ends, and carrying suitable balls crraciaiiig with cones 23 on the vertical shaft-or support 15 to allow the receptacle to rotate very freely. The pockets or recesses 12 preferably entend somewhat below the lower edge of the entrance to the recesses, as shown in F (i. so as to retain the balls therein until the number beneath the pockets may be read after the receptacle has stopped rotating.

In playing the game, the recc )tacle is rotated su'flicicntly rapidly to :ause the balls tobe thrown outwardly on the inner concaved surface by centrifugal action to bring them into alignment with the entrances to the pockets or recesses .12. their outward movei'nent being limited by the 'liangc 17. It thrown out ardly under centrifugal action they tend. to roll around the flange l7 and eventually become. seated in some of the pockets The raised COHVOTC surface H prevents the balls, when the bowl sta tionary, becoming at rest upon the axis oi"; rotation, that is, it prevents them getting onto the dead center; It will be ammrent that should a ball become at rest on this dead center it will not be thrown outwardly under centrifugal action when the bowl is rotated. llynieans of this convex surface the balls always come to rest at a. distance trom the axis of rotation, as shown in Fig.

2, that is in the annular recess formed at the junction of the concave surface 11 and the convex surface let.

In the form of device shown in Figs. 37 r. 5 and 7 there is provided no permanent pedestal for rotatably Supporting the receptacle 2:1. This construction is designed for a smaller device adapted to be carried in the pocket, but as it is to he rotated its outer surface is convex so that'the receptacle may be spun on a plane surface, indicated- 26, as the top of a table or desk. The inner surface 97 is concave and circular substantially'the same as thetirst form, although preferably of a somewhat greater curvature. It is preferable to provide this form with a closure for the open side, as

for instance a piece of glass or mica 28 recessed into the top of the receptacle and secured there by suitable means, such as screws 29. This form is also provided with an outwardly extending flange 30 t0 facilitate handling and operating. The receptacle is also provided with a plurality of pockets 31 about the upper outer rim beneath the cover 28 for entrance of the balls The entrances to these pockets are prefera-bly spaced somewhat beneath the cover, as shown. This form of the device also provided in the bottom thereof, substantially in alignment with its normal axis of rotation, with a raised convex surface 33' corresponding to the surface let of the first form to prevent the balls coming to rest on the dead center or axis of rotation. The operation of this form is practically the same as that of the first form as the bowl or receptacle is spun or rotated on a point on its outer convex surface.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, what we claim is:

1. A game comprising a receptacle having a concave interior surface, one or more balls in said receptacle, said receptacle being provided with a plurality of depressed pockets arranged about the same adjacent its upper edge adapted to receive the balls,-

said receptacle being also provided with a convex centrally arranged hump projecting above the bottom thereof, and means wherebv the receptacle may be rotated.

:2. A gan'ie comprising a receptacle havinga circular upwardly flaring interior surface, and provided in the center of the bottom thereof with a convex raised surface, and one or more balls in said recep tacle, said receptacle being also provided with. a plurality .of depressed pockets ar ranged around the side and entirely below the surface thereof and communicating with the receptacle at a distance from said raised surface, the entrance openings to said pockets being in said flaring interior surface.

A game comprising a receptacle having a circular upwardly flaring interior surface, and provided in the center of the bottom thereof with a convex raised surface, one or more balls in said receptacle, said receptacle being also provided with a plurality of pockets arranged around the side and below the surface thereof and communicating with the receptacle through said flaring surface thereof at a distance from said raised surface, and means about the rim of the open top of the receptacle to retain the balls therein.

A game comprising a receptacle having a circular upwardly flaring interior surface, and provided in the center of the bottom thereof with a convex raised surface, one or more balls in said receptacle, an inwardly extending flange about the rim of the open top of the receptacle to retain the balls therein, said receptacle being also provided with a plurality of pockets ar ranged about the sides of the same and below the flaring surface thereof, and said receptacle being provided with means on which it may be rotated about a vertical axis.

In testimony whereof we atlix oursignatures.

THOMAS TROMANS. ERNEST L. \VHITNEY. 

